Unique hobby!

[southpennrailroad]

Here is a shot of where an old canal Aqueduct use to cross this river. The base of the piers are all that remain. Your lucky to get this shot on occasion as the water is mine and dirty most of the time. Yes that use to be a tunnel built in the 1820's



I think I like my hobby because everyone I know always likes to go to congested tourist traps while I scour the landscape for historic sites not visited by to many people.

[jan4peace]

Hi...this is really interesting stuff. I have been following a story for awhile about Duffy's Cut in Malvern, PA. Are you familiar with it? I suppose that my interest is more in the archeological research surrounding the Irish railroad workers who mysteriously passed away while working in this particular area. The Watson brothers have really come a long way in unraveling this mystery. I was just wondering if you're familiar with the story.
It is very sad, but interesting....

http://duffyscut.immaculata.edu/

[hotrod]

Famous Rockville Bridge on the Pennsylvania Railroad/Norfolk Southern route just north of Harrisburg Pennsylvania. It took about an hour to reach this site to get this shot atop the mountain over looking this famous stone arch bridge listed as the oldest and longest stone arch bridge in the world.

nice!!! t looks like there were a couple other bridges there at one time also... that makes me curious.. what were they, and another 2 afternoons of research andf youve sometimes got an awnser..lolol

[southpennrailroad]

Hi...this is really interesting stuff. I have been following a story for awhile about Duffy's Cut in Malvern, PA. Are you familiar with it? I suppose that my interest is more in the archeological research surrounding the Irish railroad workers who mysteriously passed away while working in this particular area. The Watson brothers have really come a long way in unraveling this mystery. I was just wondering if you're familiar with the story.
It is very sad, but interesting....

http://duffyscut.immaculata.edu/

That's what I like about the internet and this forum. The things you learn as well as share with others. I love the Off Topic to share with others the things I spent years researching.

I always thought you had to go to school to be a historian but that isn't the case. Sticking to one subject can and in my case made me a historian. A turnpike official gae me taht title once and I felt weird about it until my wife explained it to me that I am a historian. I have been stopped many times by the Turnpike state police because your really not allowed to walk on that roadway but I have a permit to do this. When i give talks I often open with this fact and the audience just loves it. Like the opening joke.

Having the trailer means I can spend time researching sites longer instead of having to dead head back to a house just to wish you could have stayed longer in the woods.

No Jen I never heard of this history but do know I heard the name Duffy. But I have to admit that I don't wonder off track to look at other subjects as my hobby is well defined because I stay on track with this subject. I usually explain to others that I only stick to this subject. You won't find much in my possession about the B&O or Pennsylvania Railroad material like others might have because they jump around. I see them with those other railroad collection but they don't stick to just one. I have boxes and boxes of material related to just the South Penn.

I walk to the tops of mountains and under the turnpike to almost three miles off the route to where this route takes me.



Here is a picture of an unfinished grade near Breezewood, Pa. Never completed. Never used. 120 years old. Thee two hills should be joined.

[southpennrailroad]

Hotrod

No!

Two afternoons no. I found that information after studying that site for ten years. I have been doing this subject for 15 years. That section was like a missing link. I know where it was to be built in the not so far distance to the west or east but finding this site was a chore. My son was 11 years old when I started. He is going to be 26 this next March. Basically it is a huge puzzle or prehistoric pile of bones and i am slowly piecing it together.

Fun is all I can describe it as.

Oh that was the first 1850 bridge site. The present one was built in 1909.

[jan4peace]

OK, cool I understand...

[hotrod]

Hotrod

No!

Two afternoons no. I found that information after studying that site for ten years. I have been doing this subject for 15 years. That section was like a missing link. I know where it was to be built in the not so far distance to the west or east but finding this site was a chore. My son was 11 years old when I started. He is going to be 26 this next March. Basically it is a huge puzzle or prehistoric pile of bones and i am slowly piecing it together.

Fun is all I can describe it as.

Oh that was the first 1850 bridge site. The present one was built in 1909.

neat stuff! Ive been able to get my fixes is smaller pieces, weekend here and there..and it is fun... Ive been able to identify pictures from neighboring counties that were unidentified because Ive seen similar before. very few can put 2 and 2 togather...or would bother to take the time to do it...

[southpennrailroad]

In my travels looking for the railroad the documents bring me to unusual sites such as this one which is an old bowling alley in a resort that use to cater to lessor guest. It is a two lane bowling alley.

What a find. circa 1800's Also it was a Post Office Oh I have played a round once. I had to set my own pins.

[hotrod]

In my travels looking for the railroad the documents bring me to unusual sites such as this one which is an old bowling alley in a resort that use to cater to lessor guest. It is a two lane bowling alley.

What a find. circa 1800's Also it was a Post Office Oh I have played a round once. I had to set my own pins.

the cool bonus stuff!

[southpennrailroad]

<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/spennrr18811885/?action=view&amp;current=prrsusqbridge.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/spennrr18811885/prrsusqbridge.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Sorry about the size but don't you think in this case size did matter? That bridge as seen from the west shore. That mountain in the back ground right is where I took the previous color photo

Oh you should ask just how high does the water get. Well I saw a color photo that shows the water just under the keystone of each arch. The river is shallow and yes it freezes over.

[southpennrailroad]

I found a copy of my permit. I am very proud to own this.

[gregp136]

Just TOO cool. Thank you for sharing all of it. You are documenting a paice of history that would otherwise be lost.
Thank you,

Greg (and Laurie)

[mezmo]

Hey southpennrailroad,

Thanks for starting this thread - and Keep On Posting!

It is very interesting, to say the least. I'm a history nut anyway so
I'm predisposed I guess. You'd mentioned it on and off in your other
posts but this thread really gives the goods so we can understand and
appreciate just what you are doing.

Just be sure to document all your work [I'm sure you must already be
doing so, but I just had the urge to state the obvious.] and get it to
the state and federal archives that handle this type of information so all
your efforts are available for future generations. A Great Singular Effort,
I should call it!

I'm originally from Western NY State [Olean], and grew up in Western
PA and Western NY. Nice territory all in all. Railroads were a big
influence to say the least as these areas developed.

I'd like to encourage you too, to post other links you've found useful in
your research. They can be helpful to others researching other things,
like genealogy etc.. That maps link you posted earlier on in the thread
has some really good resources on it. Thanks!

Best of luck in your future investigations!
Norm/mezmo

[southpennrailroad]

I took this photo of the historic Bedford Spring Hotel south of Bedford Pa. It was the summer home of the only President from Pennsylvania James Bucannon. The president B4 President Lincoln. It has six additions. It was built in the late 1900's I has just gotten over a reconstruction face lift about three years ago. Have a credit card of no less a limit of $300.00 a NIGHT.

[Sparksalot]

So that's where the term coffee house is derived from.

Pennsylvania has a few Roadside attractions. This one is in the town of Bedford, Pa along the famous Lincoln Highway. It almost fell apart and was moved and re done.

I would love to live in that. it use to be a restaurant.